**Summary:**
In response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2890, addressed on August 6, 2025, the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions clarified the government's existing procedures regarding correspondence with Members of Parliament (MPs). The government has established guidelines within the Central Secretariat Manual of Office Procedure (CSMoP) to ensure the timely acknowledgement and response to letters from MPs. Specifically, Para 8.9 of Chapter 8 (16th edition, 2022) and Para 12.3 of Chapter 12 (2022) of the CSMoP detail the procedures to be followed. These guidelines are accessible at https://darpg.gov.in/relatedlinks/csmop. Furthermore, the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) issued consolidated guidelines on official dealings between the Administration and Members of Parliament and State Legislatures vide OM No.11013/4/2022-Estt.A-III dated September 13, 2022, emphasizing the observance of proper procedure in this regard. This document is available at https://dopt.gov.in/sites/default/files/Officialdealingconsolidation13092022.pdf. The government does not intend to issue new strict guidelines, as existing protocols are deemed sufficient for officers to address correspondence from MPs seriously.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions: A ministry of the Government of India responsible for personnel matters, public grievances, and pensions.
Department of Administrative Reforms Public Grievances: A department under the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, dealing with administrative reforms and public grievances.
LOK SABHA: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
PRIME MINISTER: The head of the executive branch of the Government of India.
Central Secretariat Manual of Office Procedure: A manual outlining procedures for secretariat work in Ministries and Departments of the Government of India (CSMoP).
Members of Parliament: Elected representatives in the Parliament of India.
Department of Personnel Training: A department responsible for personnel training.
State Legislatures: Legislative bodies of the states in India.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES AND PENSIONS
(DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS & PUBLIC GRIEVANCES)
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2890
(ANSWERED ON 06.08.2025)
CIRCULAR TO CENTRAL AND STATE GOVERNMENTS
†2890. SHRI UMMEDA RAM BENIWAL:
Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has issued any circular to the States and Central Departments in the
States to acknowledge the letter sent by the Members of Parliament and to reply to the concerned
Members of Parliament in a time bound manner and if so, the details thereof along with the copies
of the letters thereof; and
(b) whether the Government intends to issue any strict guidelines in this regard so that the officers
work seriously in respect of the letters written by the Members of Parliament and if so, the time by
which it is likely to be done and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES
AND PENSIONS AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) & (b): The Government has laid down procedures for secretariat work, in Ministries/
Departments of the Government of India, in the form of Central Secretariat Manual of Office
Procedure (CSMoP), wherein the guidelines and protocols are in place for ensuring timely
acknowledgement and responses to correspondence of Members of Parliament. The guidelines are
available at https://darpg.gov.in/relatedlinks/csmop, Para 8.9. of chapter 8 of 16th edition of
CSMOP, 2022 provides procedure to be followed in replying to communications received from
MPs. Further, in Para 12.3 of Chapter 12 of CSMOP, 2022, it is laid down that communications
received from Members of Parliament should be attended to promptly. The Department of
Personnel & Training vide OM No.11013/14/2022-Estt.A-III dated 13th September, 2022 had
issued consolidated guidelines on official dealings between the Administration and Members of
Parliament and State Legislatures – Observance of proper procedure in this regard.
(https://dopt.gov.in/sites/default/files/Official_dealing_consolidation13092022.pdf)
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